12 reasons Bristol is the best city in the UK

From bars on boats to art galleries in former toilets, there is a thriving independent spirit in the city that gave the world both Banksy and Wallace & Gromit, and even invented Ribena. If you needed any further convincing, here’s why it’s great to live in Bristol:

1. Its independent spirit

(Picture: Bristol Pound)

Gloucester Road must have more independent shops than any other street in the UK. When Tesco announced they would be opening on nearby Cheltenham Road, there was a riot. We even have an independent mayor and our own currency, the Bristol Pound.

2. Ribena was invented here

(Picture: file)

Of all of the best facts about Bristol – that Nipper the HMV dog lived here, that it was actually a voyage from Bristol led by John Cabot and not Christopher Columbus that discovered America – Ribena being invented in the city is the best of the lot.

3. We were the UK’s first Cycling City

(Picture: YouTube)

Bristol may have a hill around every corner but that doesn’t stop the thousands of people who get around the UK’s first Cycling City on two wheels. The first bit of the National Cycle Network was built here and there’s even a huge cohort of fixed gear cyclists, whose exploits were made into a documentary short called Boikzmoind.

4. Wallace and Gromit

(Picture: BBC)

Aardman are based in Bristol, with their cupboards overflowing with gold award statuettes. An arts trail last summer saw Gromit transformed into dozens of individually designed sculptures dotted around the city. We’re due to have a similar trail in 2015 involving Shaun the Sheep, whose first feature film is currently being painstakingly made.

5. Street art is everywhere

(Picture: PA)

If you had visited Nelson Street a few years ago, you would have walked down a drab and grey concrete thoroughfare. Then it was transformed into a huge outdoor art gallery by See No Evil. South of the river, Upfest does the same thing with huge pieces remaining on the side of many buildings on North Street.

6. Festivals

(Picture: Love Saves The Day)

Come the summer months and there could be three festivals happening simultaneously every weekend, from music festival Love Saves The Day in Castle Park to Mayfest which always brings theatre to unusual venues. This year sees the first Food Connections festival, celebrating the city’s diverse food culture, alongside regular favourites such as the Harbour Festival and Balloon Fiesta.

7. The bridge

The majestic Clifton suspension bridge (Picture: Alamy)

Think of a Bristol landmark and you’ll probably think of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by a young Isambard Kingdom Brunel who died before seeing its completion. To celebrate its 150th anniversary this year, the Human Harp project even hopes to make the bridge ‘sing’ by playing its cables like a harp.

8. Water and green spaces

Look how green it is (Picture: PA)

Many moons ago, Bristol city centre would have looked like a forest of masts. Trading may now have ceased, but water still plays an integral role in city life, with ferries, bars on boats and bridges that swing to let tall ships through as long as they don’t get stuck. Don’t forget the greenery too in the soon-to-be European Green Capital 2015, with everybody having their favourite park or open space.

9. Baking bread and drinking coffee

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The pace of life is slower in Bristol. Old-fashioned print publications such as Lionheart and Off Life magazines are thriving. And what better way to read these than over a delicious pastry and cup of coffee? Visit Hart’s Bakery in an arch underneath Temple Meads or East Bristol Bakery on St Mark’s Road in Easton. And wash your bread down with a coffee from Didn’t You Do Well, Full Court Press or Small Street Espresso. Even better, combine the two at new kids on the block Bakers & Co.

10. We are just one of two places in the world to hear the music of William Onyeabor live on stage

William Onyeabor – the forgotten Nigerian king of pysch-synth Afro-beat (Picture: supplied)

On April 2 at the Colston Hall, artists from Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem, Bloc Party and undoubtedly afew more special guests will be playing the music of cult Nigerian musician William Onyeabor live for the first time ever. Onyeabor was an enigmatic figure who released eight albums before becoming a born-again Christian and refusing to talk about himself or his music ever again.

11. We have theatres in breweries, art galleries in toilets and secret bars beneath Indian restaurants

(Picture: Corbis)

Everything is not what it seems in Bristol. We have a theatre in a former brewery, the aptly named Brewery Theatre, as well as other theatres above pubs and one in a bar and nightclub. An exhibition space in what used to be an Edwardian toilet can be hired by artists for free.

12. We’re going to have a water slide down Park Street in May

A mock up of the huge waterslide which could be installed in Bristol (Picture: SWNS)

Outdoor play is something that Bristol does incredibly well. An event not to be missed this summer is a water slide down Park Street, one of the UK’s steepest shopping streets. Subject to securing crowdfunding, it will be created by artist Luke Jerram, best known for putting pianos out on city streets and having a classical music concert broadcast from speakers in hot air balloons.

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